Clueless is a 1995 American coming-of-age comedy film. It is loosely based on Jane Austen's 1815 novel Emma. It stars Alicia Silverstone (in the lead role), Stacey Dash, Paul Rudd, and Brittany Murphy. The film is set in Beverly Hills and was written and directed by Amy Heckerling and produced by Scott Rudin. It was released in the United States on July 21, 1995.